What we do
“The principal objective of a rescue and fire fighting service is to save lives.”
The Cranfield Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service plays an essential role in maintaining Airport safety to flights and passengers. Cranfield Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) also performs Airport Operations tasks such as Wildlife Control and Habitat Maintenance, as well as providing Trauma Care medical assistance and Working at Height Rescue.
The need for an RFFS is outlined in Condition 2 of the ‘Public Use’ Aerodrome Licence which states:
“No aircraft shall take-off or land at the aerodrome unless such fire-fighting and rescue services and such medical services and equipment as are required in respect of such an aircraft in the CAA’s publication CAP 168 (Licensing of Aerodromes) are provided there. Such services and equipment shall at all times when the aerodrome is available for the take-off or landing of aircraft be kept fit and ready for immediate turnout.”
When we do it
We currently work a three days on, three days off shift pattern, split across two watches; Red and Green. We operate out of a new Fire Station that we moved into in 2023, which can be accessed via Merchants Lane on the Cranfield village side of the runway. It has its own car park. As well as operational equipment the Fire Station contains kitchen and gym facilities, which can be used whenever you are on shift. Firefighters are expected to manage and maintain their fitness for the role.
Cranfield RFFS crews to Fire Category 4 from Monday to Friday, and Fire Category 2 on weekends, as specified in CAP 168 Chapter 8, however we are able to provide crewing to Fire Category 6 as required. The different Categories are based on the overall length and the maximum fuselage width of the aircraft arriving and departing the airfield.
How we train
All new recruits attend a five-week training course at a recognised training provider where you will learn the basic skills of the trade, including the use of Breathing Apparatus, Aircraft Construction, and Live Fire Exercises. We complete Revalidation of Competency training twice a year, and there are further opportunities to complete further training as you progress in your role or on promotion, such as Incident Command or instructor’s courses.
Once back on station, we complete a rolling training plan to ensure that these skills are further developed and tested, and to maintain competency. This utilises various aircraft and a breathing apparatus container to simulate the incidents that we may attend.
Other training, such as Trauma Care, Working at Height, is initially certified by external agencies, with continuation training being completed in-house at Cranfield along with gaining your Airside Driving Permit. You may have the opportunity to find specific external training courses, such as teacher training, that benefits the station and your team.
Vehicle information
The following is a brief overview of the fire vehicles based at Cranfield Airport and should not be considered exhaustive.
Fire 1 is a Nissan Navara used primarily for Wildlife Control but also as a response vehicle as the Wildlife Control Operative is a part of the riding strength. It carries an assortment of medical equipment.
Fire 2 is a Scania Viper 2. This is our primary response vehicle, holding 4500 litres of water and 630 litres of ‘Performance B’ foam concentrate, our primary media. Fire 2 also holds a 100kg cylinder of Monnex dry powder, two CO2 Extinguishers and four dry powder extinguishers, as well as medical and trauma equipment, thermal imagery and assorted power tools and cutting equipment.
Fire 3, a Carmichael Cobra 2 is our additional response vehicle for when we are crewing for larger Category aircraft / incidents that require the attendance of more appliances and deployment of more media. Fire 3 holds 10000 litres of water and 1400 litres of ‘Performance B’ foam concentrate. Fire 3 also carries 200kg of Monnex dry powder, CO2, spare BA cylinders and various other equipment.
Ops 2 is another Nissan Navara which is used for Airport Operations tasks. It’s a general purpose vehicle used for runway sweeping, habitat maintenance and general ‘grounds keeping’ duties during summer months.
Ops 4 is a Honda Fourtrax Rancher Quad Bike, which is used for completing Airport Operations tasks such as habitat maintenance and perimeter fence checks.
Trauma care
All Cranfield Fire Fighters are trained to Immediate Emergency Care (IEC) Advanced Practitioner level, and regularly train in Trauma Care to maintain competency. This enables us to effectively respond both to any personnel who may be injured in an aircraft accident, but also to other medical calls around the airport and campus as required.
Working at height
Cranfield Airport Air Traffic Control operates a remote 27-metre digital tower supplied by Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions. This technology replicates on a series of screens what can be seen through the windows of a traditional air traffic control tower. We practice our Working at Height and Rescue skills here.
Recruitment – fitness assessment
Do you have what it takes to be a fire-fighter at Cranfield Airport? The biggest hurdle many of our potential recruits find is fitness assessment, particularly the bleep test. Below is a list of what we test for. If you’re interested in applying on our next recruitment campaign, this is the minimum standard that you should be training to achieve.
The candidate undergoing the test has to carry out a series of shuttle runs between two lines exactly 20 metres apart, keeping in time with a series of audio signals. The level that they are aiming to achieve is 8.8. Once this has been reached the candidate will be asked to stop. The test begins very slowly but becomes progressively faster each minute so that it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the set pace. When the running speed increases at the start of each minute, the test enters a new level.
Individuals are measured by use of a hand grip dynometer. Whilst this test is not a pass or fail, it is recommended 35kg on the dominant hand and 33kg on the subordinate hand should be achieved.
The push-up test involves a fire-fighter performing as many standardised push-ups as they can for 1 minute.
The candidate should stretch to a point on the scale as far away as possible without bouncing or using unnecessary force. Candidates are encouraged to take a good breath in and then breathe out as they reach forwards. If necessary, PTI to place their arms across the candidate’s knees to prevent them lifting and giving a false high score.
This is a test of lower and upper body strength. Candidates will be required to drag an approximately 50kg casualty walking backwards (guided by an assessor) around a 30-metre coned course.
The candidate will be required to negotiate a set route wearing breathing apparatus with an obscuration mask restricting their vision. NOTE : This will take place in a confined crawl space.
The candidate will be required to carry 2 x 25kg dumbbells over a 50 metre course around two cones. The assessor will show the candidate correct Manual Handling techniques. The dumbbells must not be dropped throughout the course.
If successful at interview, candidates will be required to pass a Medical (including Electrocardiograms) and Vetting process before employment can begin.
